Subjunctive Spanish Conversations: Examples and Exercises
If you’ve been following our series on the Spanish subjunctive, you’ve come a long way! Today, you’re going to learn a bit about common subjunctive Spanish words used in everyday conversation. After which, you’ll put your skills to the test with some exercises!
But before we do that, let’s enjoy a quick refresher on the subjunctive.
1-Second Recap of Subjuntivo
El subjuntivo is a grammar mood that helps us convey hypothetical or uncertain situations, and also allows us to express desires and wishes. In order to understand the examples and exercises that you’ll see below, you need to be familiar with the Spanish subjunctive, and its conjugations in both present tense and imperfect.
- Spanish Subjunctive, Part 1: What is it?
- Spanish Subjunctive, Part 2: The Present Tense
- Spanish Subjunctive, Part 3: The Imperfect Tense
I also recommend reading up on Common Ways to Use the Spanish Subjunctive to Enhance Conversation to get the most out of this list! You’ll be a subjunctive connoisseur when you’re finished!
Let’s get started.
25 Common Spanish Subjunctive Expressions in Conversation
Conversational trigger words
You’ll see that conversational trigger words force the verb to be used in its subjunctive form or they already hold the subjunctive verb within the phrase. (Each subjunctive verb form is bold to reduce confusion!)
Ojalá – hopefully + verb
Ojalá no llueva mañana que vamos al parque. — I hope it doesn’t rain tomorrow when we’re going to the park.
Ojalá que – hopefully + noun
Ojalá que Julio haya recordado traer el pie de manzana — I hope that Julio remembered to bring the apple pie.
Cuando sea – when it’s
Cuando sea Navidad, voy a regalarte el suéter que quieras. — When it’s Christmas, I’ll gift you the sweater you want.
Aunque sea – at least a bit of
¿Podrías traer aunque sea un poco de hielo para el ponche? — Could you bring at least a bit of ice for the punch?
Quiero que – I want (that)
Quiero que mi mascota aprenda un truco nuevo. — I want my pet to learn a new trick.
Espero que – I hope (that)
Espero que pueda salir con mis amigos pronto. — I hope I can go out with my friends soon.
Puede que – It’s possible (that) / might
Puede que mis padres traigan guacamole para almorzar. — My parents might bring guacamole for lunch.
Quisieras – You would like / Would you like
¿Quisieras que él vaya al baile conmigo? — Would you like him to go to the dance with me?
Hiciera(s) favor – would (you) do a favor
¿Me hicieras favor de contar cuántos pasteles hay en el horno? — Would you do me the favor of counting how many cakes there are in the oven?
Dirías – would you say
¿Dirías que yo hubiera hecho una cita con el dentista? — Would you say I should have made an appointment with the dentist?
Subjunctive in Negative Because of Doubt
While expressing doubt in Spanish, verbs like creer, pensar, and sentir are used in their negative forms and are followed by a subjunctive verb. In contrast to certainty, where you might say yo creo que él lo hizo (I think he did it), you can express doubt by saying yo no creo que él lo hiciera (I don’t think he did it). Let’s look at some others!
No creo que – I don’t believe (that)
No creo que tirar basura sea una buena idea. — I don’t believe littering is a good idea.
No pienso que – I don’t think (that)
No pienso que pintarse el pelo de verde sea una idea tan loca. — I don’t think dying your hair green is such a crazy idea.
No siento que – I don’t feel (that)
No siento que ella esté siendo honesta conmigo. — I don’t feel that she’s being honest with me.
Si hubiera – if there were
Me gustaría ir al cine si hubiera poca gente ahí. — I would like to go to the movie theater if there were only a few people there.
Impersonal Expressions
Impersonal expressions are phrases that follow a simple formula: es + adjective + que and express an opinion or uncertainty. Phrases that introduce a fact such as es cierto que, es verdad que, and es normal que do not take the subjunctive unless they are being used in a question. Take a look:
Es importante que – it’s important (that)
Es importante que seamos buenos vecinos. — It’s important for us to be good neighbors.
Es cierto que – it’s true (that)
¿Es cierto que hablaras con el presidente de los Estados Unidos? — Is it true that you spoke with the president of the United States?
Versus: Es cierto que Alberto ganó la lotería. — It’s true that Albert won the lottery.
Es normal que – it’s normal (that)
¿Es normal que mi perro no coma verduras? — Is it normal that my dog won’t eat vegetables?
Si, es normal que él no las come. — Yes, it’s normal that he doesn’t eat them.
Es triste que – it’s sad (that)
Es triste que no podamos visitar a mis abuelos por el momento. — It’s sad that we can’t visit my grandparents for the moment.
Es posible que – it’s possible (that)
Es posible que mi hermana haya roto la maceta. — It’s possible that my sister broke the pot.
Es probable que – it’s likely (that)
Es probable que mañana caiga granizo. — It’s likely that it will hail tomorrow.
Era de esperarse que – it was to be expected (that)
Era de esperarse que Matilda olvidara su maleta. — It was to be expected that Matilda would forget her suitcase.
Sequence-based Expressions
The following expressions are called sequence-based or time-based expressions and allow you to express the sequence of certain events. While these do not involve uncertainty, these particular expressions still require you to use the subjunctive! So keep an eye out for these!
Antes de que – before
¿Antes de que pases por leche, podrías recoger a María? — Before you go buy milk, could you pick up María?
Después de que – after
Después de que termine la canción, podríamos ir por comida. — After this song ends, we could go get some food.
Mientras – while
Mientras escribas el guión, yo podría preparar las cámaras. — While you write the script, I could set up the cameras.
Spanish Subjunctive Exercises
Now let’s practice the Spanish subjunctive conjugation with some exercises! I’ll provide the infinitive form of the verb, and you must conjugate it correctly with the prompt given to you.
In order to fill out this exercise well, make sure you’ve studied up on your subjunctive verb tenses and conjugation tables!
Quick grammar lingo reminder:
First person singular = I
First person plural = we
Second person singular: you
Second person plural: you all
Third personal singular: he/she/it
Third person plural: they
Ready? Let’s go!
Fill in the missing subjunctive verb:
1. First-person singular — imperfect
Si yo ______(vivir) en otro país, probaría la comida local.
2. First-person plural — imperfect
Me gustaría que ______(comer) en tu restaurante favorito.
3. First-person singular — present
Cuando yo ______(prender) la luz, recuerden decir: ¡Sorpresa!
4. First-person plural — present
Nosotros ______(hablar) de la presentación mientras ellos investigan el tema.
5. Second-person singular — imperfect
Agradecería si tu ______(comprar) el almuerzo de mañana.
6. Second-person plural — imperfect
Si ustedes ______(vender) mangos, les compraría una docena.
7. Second-person singular — present
Es raro que tú ______(tomar) café tan tarde.
8. Second-person plural — present
¡Qué alegría que ______(poder) ir al concierto del viernes!
9. Third-person singular — imperfect
Él ______(estar) en el hospital de no ser por los bomberos.
10. Third-person plural — imperfect
Si ellas te ______(apoyar) con la tarea, la ______(hacer) mucho más rápido.
11. Third-person singular — present
Cuando ella ______(lograr) su meta, podrá comprar un carro nuevo.
12. Third-person plural — present
Es impresionante que ellos ______(correr) 24 kilómetros sin parar.
How did you do? What was the easiest tense to conjugate? How about the most difficult one?
Open Up to a World of Possibilities!
You can really go in-depth when learning Spanish subjunctive. Learning to talk about possibility, desire, and uncertainty allows us to plan for the future and work better in teams. It’s an essential part of speaking Spanish. We’re providing you with this Spanish subjunctive series in an effort to give all the information you’ll need to succeed! To learn more about this topic, check out our list of subjunctive Spanish endings for -ar verbs. If you would like to dedicate more time to practice, take a free trial class at Homeschool Spanish Academy.
Want to continue practicing advanced Spanish grammar? Check out these posts!
Answer Key
Let’s look at how you did with this answer key:
- Viviera
- Comieramos
- Prenda
- Hablemos
- Compraras
- Vendieran
- Tomes
- Puedan
- Estuviera
- Apoyaran, Harían
- Logre
- Corran
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